Nursing News

AACN Advanced Practice Exams Aligned with APRN Consensus Model

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February 20, 2014 - AACN Certification Corporation has completed the process of aligning all its certification exams for advanced practice nurses with the requirements of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation.

With the launch this month of a new credentialing exam for clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who care for neonatal patients (ACCNS-N), AACN Certification Corporation--the credentialing arm of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)--now has four Consensus Model-aligned advance practice exams.

In 2013, it launched ACCNS-AG and ACCNS-P exams for CNSs who care for adult-gerontology and pediatric patients and the ACNPC-AG for acute care nurse practitioners who care for adult-gerontology patients.

The Consensus Model establishes the first national standards for uniform regulation of advanced practice registered nurses in all states. It was developed by 48 APRN nursing organizations nationwide that have pledged support for these standards.

“AACN Certification Corporation played an active role in the development of the Consensus Model, so aligning all four of our advanced practice nursing certification exams with the model is exciting,” said Carol Hartigan, AACN certification and policy strategist.

“As the organization representing the interests of, and setting standards for, acute and critical care nurses, we know the indispensable role that advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners play in meeting the healthcare needs of America’s most medically fragile patient population and, therefore, believe that protecting the role is imperative,” she continued.

The ACCNS programs are entry-level certifications for advanced practice nurses educated at the graduate level as CNSs to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of healthcare services (from wellness through acute care) to meet the specialized needs of adult-gerontology, pediatric or neonatal patient populations.

ACNPC-AG is an entry-level certification for nurses educated at the graduate level to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of healthcare services to meet the specialized physiologic and psychologic needs of adult-gerontology patients (young adults, older adults and frail elderly) with complex acute and/or chronic health conditions.

Potential candidates for the exams should apply online on the AACN Certification Corporation website, where they can also find information on the individual certifications, test plans, practice exam questions and exam eligibility requirements, the APRN Consensus Model and other APRN resources.